WOLSINGHAM PARISH COUNCIL

MINUTES FOR MEETING HELD

TUESDAY 11TH OCTOBER   2022

7.00 PM

TOWN HALL, WOLSINGHAM

            PRESENT: D.Sugden (Chair), Mrs A Savory, A.Vipond, D Jones, I Rodgers, Mrs Y Bell, J Bell, Mrs P Dobson,  O Gardner, HG Dobson, Sarah-Ann Stoker (Clerk)

            MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC: J.Green, Trish Willis, J & C Stoker, Jackie Wilson, G & B Pybourne,

                                                                   Gill Calvert, Nick Mitchinson (Head Teacher Wolsingham School) +1

            Councillor O Gardiner left the meeting at 8pm.

 

1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: None Received – Anne-Marie Parkin handed in her resignation on 5/10/22 & Emma Johnson handed in her resignation on 11/10/22. The chair thanked both parties for their contribution to the Council. The process for filling the two vacancies will now be followed.
2. TO RECEIVE QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC: Nick Mitchinson introduced himself as the head teacher of Wolsingham School. The school is going from strength to strength with increased intake and the recently held open evening had been successful.
3. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST: None
4. MINUTES OF MEETING HELD  20TH  September 2022, agreed & signed as a true record
5. MATTERS ARISING:
   1. Resident concerns with HGV traffic Angate Street and Uppertown. Trish Willis has correlated a questionnaire that was sent to 111 residents and 14 businesses of which there was a 50.4% returns. Road safety came out as the highest concern with speed and size of vehicles following. Some suggestions of what residents wanted included reduced speed limits, weight limits and possible traffic calming features although parking was also raised as an issue. Mr Sugden also read out a letter from a concerned resident on this matter and Trish Willis was thanked for organising and producing the comprehensive report. Mrs Savory has already spoken with the two main hauliers in Weardale with the above concerns and has also contacted John Shuttleworth and Dave Lewin of DCC regarding having a meeting which will include the Parish Council. Mrs Savory will also arrange for a speed survey to be undertaken in the Uppertown area. On another matter it was noted that the lollipop lady is in the process of being replaced.
   2. Bar B Q provision more information is required into costs/type of permanent facilities before this matter can be taken forward.
   3. Warm Places/ Hot food. There is a meeting being held by Northern Powergrid at Eastgate on 21st October for anyone to attend. The Parish Council are having a meeting with the AAP to look into possible facilities being used at the Town Hall and St Anne’s Hall. The Methodist Chapel are offering a warm space on a Monday 10am to 2pm with a soup & a roll starting on the 7th November.
   4. CCTV Recreation Ground / St. Anne’s I.C.O. – matter deferred to a future date
   5. Thornley Village Green Tree works, costs have been agreed with Oliver’s who will go forward with the required planning application.
   6. Wayfarers Information Boards – AAP to possibly fund the majority of the project. Mrs A Savory & Jeff Bell declared an interest in this matter as members of the AAP board. As land owners the application for funding will need to come from the Parish Council.
6. CORRESPONDENCE:
   1. i)  Edward Butcher Y. N.E. Powerlifting Thank you letter received for funding.
   2.  ii) Letter received and read out from Mr Mason (Stonewaller) with a suggestion that the trees need to be removed to allow a successful repair. A new vote on a way forward cannot be taken until the November meeting due to the date of the last vote.
7. RECREATION GROUND:  Mrs Savory has arranged for the Christmas Market to take place on Saturday 19th November with all council members agreeing that the marquee be erected in the car park area.
8. MARKET PLACE: Mrs Savory is looking into the possibility of new lights with a suggestion that this year’s tree must have better lights/decorations, however we should be mindful of the energy consumption with the current energy crisis. Lights should also be erected at the St Anne’s to coincide with the Christmas Market. Mrs A Savory declared an interest in this matter as a member of the AAP board.
9. FINANCE:
   1. Cheques for Payment September - agreed
   2. Reports to End September - agreed

10 a) PLANNING:  DECIDED

DM/22/02544/TCA    19A, West End routine maintenance on sycamore, rowan and purple, plum No Objection

DM/22/02434/PNA    High Jofless Farm, erection of 1 no. agricultural building for housing livestock PNA not needed

DM/22/02229/TCA    1, Chapel Walls, Beech (T2&T3) crown reduce and reshape by 3m.Beech (T4) reduce height by 6M and prune sides in by up to 3.5m to shape. Beech (T5) fell as close to ground level as practical Objection raised

DM/22/02230/TPO    St. Mary & St. Stephens Church, various tree works No Objection

DM/22/02155/TCA    Land South west of Stanella, Thornley, pollard up to 7m T902 Oak Objection Raised

DM/22/02306/TCA    Springbank Thornley, Fell T903 Ash Objection Raised

DM/22/02095/FPA    Land opposite 21 to 23 Silver Street Detached garage. Approved

DM/22/01997/FPA    10, Meadhope Street, remove existing concrete roof tiles, and reroof front and rear elevations with natural slate. Site 12 no. pv solar panels rear roof slope Approved

DM/22/01904/FPA    The Barn , Durham Road, replace external door with fixed window Approved

DM/22/01174/FPA    Harelaw Farm, erection of 1 no. agricultural building on existing farmyard Approved

DM/21/01832/FPA    Land West of 1 Durham Road , construction of 20 affordable homes and associated works  Approved

DM/22/02335/TCA    The Coach House 2A, Demesne Court Various tree/shrub works. Approved

b) PLANNING : NOTIFIED;

DM/22/02637/TCA    25, Front Street, removal of T1 Monkey Puzzle Tree – no objection

DM/22/02620/FPA    Bishop Oak, creation of new external window and door openings, replacement of sceptic tank with package treatment plant. – no objection

DM/22/02621/LB       Bishop Oak, Internal and external alterations – no objection

DM/22/02524/FPA    12, Lynndale, , single storey rear extensions, partially convert garage to habitable room and additional first floor window – no objection

DM/22/02540/FPA    Thornley Hall, conversion of building to holiday let - no objection

DM/22/02541/LB       Thornley Hall, conversion of byre to holiday let – no objection